SKUAST-K and NIFT Srinagar signed an MoU to drive collaborative research, innovation, and product development for wool, pashmina, and silk in Jammu and Kashmir.
SKUAST-K and NIFT Srinagar Sign MoU to Boost Value Addition in J&K’s Fibre Resources
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K) and the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Srinagar, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on August 14, 2026, to strengthen collaborative research, innovation, product development, and academic exchange. The agreement focuses on adding value to Jammu and Kashmir’s rich fibre resources, including wool, pashmina, and silk, and translating institutional expertise into market-ready outcomes.
Main Highlights of the MoU Signing
The institutions signed the MoU at SKUAST-K, Shalimar, in the presence of Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor, SKUAST-K, and Prof Monica Gupta, Director, NIFT Srinagar, along with senior officials and faculty from both sides. The ceremony underscored a shared commitment to move beyond conventional academic collaboration and deliver tangible technologies, products, and livelihood opportunities for local stakeholders.
The partnership combines SKUAST-K’s scientific and technical strengths in livestock, fibre science, and processing with NIFT Srinagar’s capabilities in design, fashion technology, product development, and market-oriented innovation. A key outcome will be a joint research programme on the value addition of J&K’s fibre resources, with a clear focus on the fibre-to-fabric value chain.
Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai directed relevant faculty and officers to develop a focused, collaborative research plan that improves value realization from the region’s fibre assets. He emphasized that institutional partnerships should yield new technologies, innovative products, and greater economic returns for artisans, herders, and MSMEs linked to the craft and textile ecosystem.
Prof Monica Gupta stated that the collaboration offers significant potential to integrate design-led innovation with scientific rigor. She expressed confidence that the partnership will generate value-added products, stronger brand narratives for Kashmiri fibres, and improved market access for local producers.
Dr Asif Hassan, Head, Division of Livestock Products Technology (LPT), SKUAST-K, outlined the MoU’s objectives, which include joint projects, faculty and student exchange, shared laboratories and testing facilities, and co-developed training modules for artisans and entrepreneurs. Earlier, Prof Gupta visited the SKUAST-K Innovation, Incubation and Entrepreneurship (SKIE) Centre and interacted with its leadership to explore startup and incubation pathways emerging from this tie-up.
Strategic Fit with J&K’s Handicrafts and Handloom Push
The MoU arrives as Jammu and Kashmir expands its institutional and market ecosystem for traditional crafts. The Handicrafts and Handloom Department has recently launched a GI QR Code Management System to authenticate non-textile and languishing crafts and has intensified skill-building through RAMP-linked programmes with NIFT on branding and aesthetic packaging.
By linking fibre science, design, and market intelligence, the SKUAST-K – NIFT partnership can directly support GI and ODOP product development, improve quality consistency, and enable premium positioning for Pashmina, Kani, Sozni, and other heritage categories. The collaboration also aligns with broader government efforts to strengthen GI traceability, expand skill courses, and promote craft entrepreneurship through initiatives such as the Craft MBA at CDI.
Expected Outcomes and Next Steps
The institutions plan to operationalize the MoU through a time-bound action plan that identifies priority fibre value chains, pilot product lines, and shared research themes. Faculty teams will map gaps in processing, finishing, and design, then co-create prototypes that meet domestic and export standards.
Training components will target artisans, weavers, and MSMEs, translating research insights into practical modules on fibre grading, finishing techniques, design development, and packaging. The SKIE Centre connection opens pathways for incubating design-led startups that commercialize these innovations and create new livelihood opportunities across the Valley.
As the craft sector scales – with nearly five lakh registered artisans and growing GI label issuance – this science–design–market bridge can help J&K’s fibre-based products command fairer prices, reduce reliance on intermediaries, and build durable brands rooted in authenticity and quality.
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